The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1887-02-26
CHAPTER XII.
4 LITTLE HOOP OF PEARLS

'ASN~
| Business had called Colonel Lyn-
don from Castle Ettrck. His solic-
! itor, the head of firm that had
managed the High Cliffe property for
many years, had written, requesting him.
| if at all possible, to meet him there. Busi-
ness was more important 10 Colonel l4yn-
! don than it had been, for he had or, as he
hoped and believed, lie would soon have,
| the interests of another besides himself TO
consider. He saw Lady Flora, who begged
| him to retulsl As soon as he was free, and
travelled south.
1t was partly the somewhat mysterious
purport OF the lawyers letter and partly a
| fear of being premature thai prevented
! him from speaking to Lefty before he
/ started. He still thought OF her first, and
| he would not. for the mere sake of setting
! his own mind at rest, have risked the dam
ger of losing her confidence. But her
| friendly way of bidding him farewell, with
/ the frank pleasure which had shone IN her
sweet blue eyes when he told her that he
would certainly return to Castle Ettrick in
| few days, encouraged him to hope that,
when the right moment came, she would
| say yes to the entreaty that was trembling
| on his lips.
| The business at High Cliife was soon
! TRANSACTED. Colonel Lyndon took the OPP
| portunfty of looking more closely into his
affairs than he had previously done. He
| found that the value of his property was
| increasing, that he could afford TO make
| good settlements on wife. and that lit
| tie painting and redscomting would make
High Cliffe delightful summer residence.
| These he set on foot at once, to the great
| satisfaction of his man of business, who
| had been fearing that he would never Set
! tie at home.
Lyndon of High Clih'e is going to mar
ry: you mark my words" he said TO his
wife that evening.
His suspicious would have been con-
firmed if he could have followed his client
| to London the next day.
The Colonel had one intimate friend
| living there; she was the daughter of their
| nearest neighbor at High Cliffe, and she
| married man who was kept in London by
| his business The greater part of the year.
| Immediately on his arrival he called
her house, and was shown into the draw
ing room, where she was sitting over fancy
work.
Elizabeth. he said. Il want YOU to put
on your bonnet and come out with me.
VIII you?"
certainly will, she answered. where
do you want TO go?"
TO a jewelers.; one who may be de-
pended upon
He smiled, aud she shook her finger at
him.
AT last, she said. 81 prophesied it,"
"Prophesied WHAT"
THAT you would fall in love before the
year was out
They went out together. The Colonel
| hailed hanson driver, who took them to q
jeweler on whom his friend said she could
depend, and they spent an hour at his
counter. He made his choice at last-a
small hoop of pearls, exquisite in form and
color. and necklace of the same beautiful
stones, inclosed in a casket lined with pale
blue velvet. Should they be sent? the
seller Of the gems asked. No, he answered.
He would pay for them at once, and take
them away.
Outside tie shop lie thanked his friend
for coming with him, and said good-by to
| her.
You will let me know" she said, look
| ing at him aifectionately.
IF there anything to tell?" he answered,
with a curious smile.
THE woman that you love, and that doee
not love YOU" said the lady, would
Hush, hush!" said the Colonel. hur-
| riedly. Remember my age"
| Without waiting for another word, he
fastened off, made his final arrangements,
| and with the little ring, of whose possess
| sion he was never for one moment uncon-
| scious, III his breast pocket. took the night
mail for Scotland. At Edinburgh he re-
manned for an hour or two, Mr. Winstan-
| ley having requested him to see to some
| business of his in passing, and this brought
| him to Ettrick at about the same hour as
| on the former occasion, when Milly and
/ Lefty had been his travelling companions.
| Wishing TO give pleasant surprise to his
friends, he sent round the carriage contain
| ing his traps by the back way, and walked
| up TO the house.
| 1t was a dark night for tie time of the
! year. The sky was covered with clouds,
and occasionally there could be heard in
the distance the low rumbling of thunder
| The Colonel saw no one in the grounds,
| but he heard voices which made him sup
pose that some of the party were out of
doors. With quick, swinging step. he
walked along the avenue, and ran up the
| steps that led to the terrace. Lady Flora,
who was sitting alone in the drawing
room, saw him, and gave little cry.
fro BE CONTINUED